Five Generations - Mary L. Newby

Mary L. Newby, 90, of Isle of Wight County, feels lucky that she has lived long enough to see five generations of her family.

Her daughter, Rilla Williams, has a son Robert, who has a daughter, Stephanie Winnegar, who has a daughter, Latoya - Newby's great great-grandaughter.

Newby has seven children: four daughters and three sons. She has been living with her daughter, Elsie White, for the past 14 years.

"My mother is very independent," White says. "She takes care of most of her own needs. I keep an eye on her and help her out when she needs it. She doesn't like to receive help if she can do something for herself."

When Newby first came to live with her daughter, she joined the senior citizens group at Carrollton Nike Park. It was there that she learned how to knit.

Newby stopped meeting with the senior citizens group after becoming sick in December 1988.

She is still active in Little Zion Baptist Church, Smithfield, and has been a member for 14 years. She goes to church almost every Sunday.

"She loves to sing church hymns," White says. "Her favorite song is `Take your burden to the lord and leave it there.' She loves that song.'"

White says that during church services her mother sometimes stands up spontaneously and starts singing hymns.

"Our pastor Rev. J.A. Taylor lets her sing when she wants to and the rest of the congregation joins in and sings with her," White says.

She says her mother is not very talkative, but she likes to write notes to people.

"One note that really sticks out in my mind is when she thanked me for giving her a home." she says. "That really made me feel good. She also wrote a note to my husband, William, thanking him for taking such good care of her."

White does receive help from Isle of Wight Social Services in watching her mother. A social services worker comes out every morning for about four hours to be with Newby.